Coil spring spcer insertion tool



Oct. 25, 1955 P. E. SHOWMAN 2,721,376

COIL SPRING SPACER INSERTION TOOL Filed May 22, 1952 7 Z7. Z7 5 v INVENTUR PQQZE'. Showman Z4 MQ M AT'R mwm's United Sta Okla,

Arrow,

assignor to The alien Arrow Paul E. Showman, B Okla, a

Sh T mpany, Broken corporation Applicat V May 1 Claim. (Cl.

Thy invention relates to a device for facilitating the insertiu'ii of a spacer between one end of a spring and the fraine or chassis of a vehicle.

vIn a vehicle suspension means wherein the wheels are mounted on rock levers or knuckles, a coil spring is inserted between the levers and the vehicle chassis or frame. The lower end of the spring sets in and the upper end of the spring engages which is secured to the chassis or frame. for spacers being installed arises from the fact the coil springs will normally weaken in the first 15,800 miles of operation. After a certain amount of flexing, the strength of the spring stabilizes and weakens no more. However, the sag of the spring has allowed the front of the car to drop, making the wheels sprawl. This causes misalignment, bad steering, hard riding and very fast wear on the inside tread of the front tires.

1952, Serial N0. 289,366

One inch thick spacer on each side of the car will increase the pressure on the coil springs enough to raise it about 2 /2 inches. Two spacers on each side may be installed if necessary. The spacers economically and efficiently correct the bad conditions listed above. The insertion of the spacer is a time consuming operation, and in order to provide a means whereby this spacer may be installed in a relatively short time, I have provided a spring holding device which is adapted to compress the spring beyond the tension which is normal when the weight of the vehicle is on the springs, so that the chassis may be jacked up or otherwise raise above the upper end of the spring.

Another object of this invention is to provide a device of this kind which can be used with different types and makes of vehicles.

A further object of this invention is to provide a device which will firmly hold the spring under compression so that the spring will not accidently be permitted to expand while either replacing complete A frame assemblies on some makes and/ or inner control shafts and bushings on all makes, or any part of the assembly.

A further object of this invention is to provide a safety tool which by simply inserting this tool and removing all the spring pressure from the A frame makes any major front end job safer.

With the above and other objects in view, my invention consists in the arrangement, combination and details of construction disclosed in the drawings and specification, and then more particularly pointed out in the appended claim.

In the drawing:

Figure 1 is a fragmentary vertical section of a vehicle chassis and suspension means therefor, having a spring compression device disposed in spring compressing position constructed according to an embodiment of this invention.

Figure 2 is a fragmentary sectional view taken on the line 2-2 of Figure 1.

es Patent 051cc 2,721,376 Patented Oct. 25, 1955 Referring to 10 designates generally a ve icle chassis or frame and the numeral 1 designates generally a rock lever disposed below the frame 10 and carrying a wheel or axle. A coil compres- 12 is interposed between the lever 11 and the chassis or frame 10 and is seated at its lower end on a is formed with a about an insecured by fastening means The upper end of the spring 12 reduced diameter verted cup-shaped member 15 16 to the frame or chassis 10. A rubber spacer or of ring shape is disposed about the cup member 15 and is interposted between the eye 14 and the chassis or frame 10.

ring 14 is unsecured with respect to the 10 and where it is necessary to install the spacer 17, under prior practice the frame or chassis jack and the frame or substantial height in the ring 14 from the cup 15. The drawing details the dis-assembly of the A frame necessary before the spring may be released.

Under prior practice, the installation of the spacer 17 has been a time consuming operation and in order to provide a means whereby the spacer or shim 17 may be installed in a relatively short time, I have provided a spring contracting or holding device, as will be hereinafter described.

A pair of upwardly divergent rigid arms or bars and 19 are formed at their upper ends with downturned hooks 20 and 21, and the books 20 and 21 are adapted to engage over adjacent convolutions of the spring ar 18 is provided at its lower end with an inwardly projecting extension 22 having an opening 23 through which an elongated threaded bolt 24 is adapted to loosely engage.

Arm or bar 19 is also provided with an angularly disposed extension 25 overlying the extension 22 and interposed between the head 26 of the bolt 24 and the extension 22 A pair of downturned flanges 27 are carried by of the extension 25 and engage on opposite edges of extension 22 so that the two arms or bars 19 will be held against turning movethe other. threaded shaft 24 extends through the rela- 28, which is formed in the spring supporting plate 13, and a disc shaped plate 29 is loosely mounted on the bolt or shaft 24 and extends across the opening 28 and bears against the lower side of plate 13. A spring tensioning nut 30 is threaded on the bolt or shaft 24 and bears against the plate In order to provide a means whereby the hooked arms or bars 18 and 19 will be resiliently biased away from each other so that the hooks 20 and 21 will automatically hook onto the desired convolutions of the spring 12, have provided a spring 31 24. The upper end of spring 31 bears against the lower extension 22 and the lower end of the spring 31 bears against a spring tensioning nut 32, which is threaded on bolt or shaft 24.

In the use and operation of this device, when it is desired or necessary to-install the spacer ring 17, the spring tensioned arms or bars 18 and 19 are inserted interiorly o by extending the arms 18 and 19 upwardly 28. The arms 18 and 15 are moved upwardly to the upper portion of spring 12 ant when they are in the desired upper position, spring 31 will resiliently swing arms 18 and 19 outwardly so tha the hooks 20 and 21 will engage over adjacent convolr tions or spring 12.

Plate 29 is of a diameter The bolt or tively large opening greater than the diameter oif-set end portin off-set portion second bar of said first bar and or chassis 10 may then be elevated registry, said opening 28 of plate 13.

spacerl7 has been installed, vehicle may be lowered so said second bar, that eye 14 W1 be disposed about cup 15. his spring 10 olding or compressing device will permit the normal opmounted on said eration of lnstalling the spacer to be performed in a relasaid 0 tively s on time without mounted on said whereby upon insertion of the tool axially W11.-

of 5? said second bauoverlappingf first bar with said flanges 0 r the edges of said off-set portion bolt extencopenings being substantiallynfl whereby said first and sel O through sald 12 5 pivoted with relation to eac'l bars may if i with said head thereof engaging aQ Sald b0 a of said bars dive? f away from the longitudinal axis of said a i 1 ring bolt and having al a hehcolf i ifi iT-set end portion of said first ba nut bolt and engaging Th2 fgg of said spring, said second bar having its longin 'nal dimension ,aid first bar n said coil h i 1 5 ring spring said hooks engage over a pair of separatt suspension means of the type herelnbefore described lions thereof, a Second Ill-1t mounted on Salfi and a do not mean to confine myself to the exact details of 118C 3 mounted on Sald bolt llltefmedlate first at is claimed is: A coil spring spacer gated threaded bolt having an enlarged head at one end References Cited in the file of this patent reversely bent to UNITED STATES PATENTS provide a hoe said one end portion having an openin t erein substantially greater than the diameter of said bolt 55 55 -11 2,;11112222121 i i f t e second of said ars having one end portion thereof 1,838,738 Bradley Dec 1931 elf-set at an obtuse angle and its other end reversely bent I I n I J to provide a hook, said off-set end portion of said second FOREIGN PATENTS ar having alaterally extending flange at each side there- 295,828 Great Britain Aug. 23, 1928 of and a transversely extending opening therebetween 783,475 rance substantially greater than the diameter of said bolt, said 

